We head back to Seattle tomorrow rested & revived from our stay at Hawthorne. As we inch towards Summmaaaa, keep in mind a stay here through Airbnb. It has been such a treat this past year to hear how our guests have enjoyed it–many booking again this year and making it a tradition, which we so love. The Hudson Valley so rich in history with an endless list of things to see & do. And then you get to come back to the house and snuggle in. Light a fire and read on the back porch. Stroll the 11 acres and wander. Sit by the pond. Cook a fabulous meal from farm stand treats you have picked up along the way. Dine out on the picnic table under the stars. Click here for the listing. Certainly contact me if you have any additional questions, I am more than happy to assist.

Airbnb is introducing a new program called, Plus, with design a major factor. We are honoredthatHawthorne has been chosen to be part of it. Fromtheir site, “Plus is a selection of only the highest quality homes with hosts known for great reviews and attention to detail.” They came and shot the house yesterday. I always love a photo shoot! Our experience with the guests that have rented out the house has been hugely satisfying and meaningful to us. Only being at the house several months a year, we love the idea of others being able to enjoy the specialness of the house & property. Sharing the experience of being here is of great importance to us. Small details bring both of us great joy, and the farmhouse is layer after layer of them. From the soap you wash your hands with, to the linens you use for your meal, to the extra virgin olive oil you use to make a vinaigrette, to the blanket you throw over your legs when you curl up by the fire to read a book, to the artwork on the walls ready to inspire you–all are part of the experience of staying at Hawthorne. I snapped a few photos yesterday while the photographer was shooting away.

If you have never been to the Hudson Valley or have plans to do so, keep Hawthorne in mind. Many of our guests have been blog readers, customers of Watson Kennedy or those who follow along on Instagram. We love sharing our home with those who enjoy all the details and love we have poured into it. Click here for the link.

Art is such a personal thing. A piece might resonate with you yet do nothing for the next person. That is entirely ok, but I think that is what slows down or in some cases paralyzes a person from buying art. Connecting with a piece of art should be all about you. Or you and your partner/spouse. Take everyone else out of the equation. It will relieve a huge amount of the stress over purchasing a work of art. Then you open your mind to what truly stirs your soul.

This Hawthorne stay has all sorts of facets to it, from R&R to vintage buying for the shops, to a quick city trip for the stationery show, to chipping away on decisions for Little Hawthorne. Top of the list this visit is figuring out what color to have the floors stained. Under super thick shag wall to wall carpeting from what we are guessing was from the 70’s were beautiful hardwood floors. We are major fans of hardwood floors. Whether stained or painted, they are what we have had in our homes since we first met. There is just something about the grains and color variation we both love. Needless to say, we were pretty over the moon when it was figured out these were under all that carpeting. Having the floors refinished will bring them back to life, creating a fine canvas for the rest of the work ahead.

My love of flowers runs deep. The happiness they bring to me is immeasurable. This last stay at Hawthorne is testimony to that fact. The eve we arrived a good sized snow arrived and we did not leave the house the next day. Which on almost all levels is heaven to me. Only thing missing were some blooms set about which we would normally pick up shopping our first full day there. I can honestly say I felt a tad off kilter that first day. Once we got out and did a little grocery shopping and picked up a bundle of lilies, all was right in my world. I know for some of you reading that might sound/seem extreme, but I really did breath easier once they dotted about the rooms. Flowers settle me. They make a space come alive. Others of you reading completely know what I am talking about. I am not meaning anything excessive or overly extravagant, just a few blooms that make the rooms full of life. Moments after arriving back in Seattle the other evening to the apartment, I walked straight to Whole Foods to pick up a bundle of tulips for the very same reason. The rooms woke up once the single stems were set here and there and all was right. The world may be chaotic outside, but home can envelop us. With a few flowers it certainly does for me. Happy week-end all! Much love, TKW

A collection can really be of something quite basic, super utilitarian but ultimately should be something that pleases you on many levels. At Hawthorne we started collecting old, heavy glass bottles & jars that have writing on them. We use them for single stem vases but when not called in to duty to hold a flower, they look swell massed together to enjoy visually as the collection in the dining room. We find them when out and about looking for vintage for the shops. I try and never spend more than $20 for one. These little beauties can be super spendy as they are quite old and certain ones become quite collectible. We pass on those and revel in the beauty of more basic versions. For it is a collection that is meant to be used, so if one breaks we are not all torn up by it. For it is a ‘working’ collection. To be admired when not in action but they really come to life when a bloom makes the little vessels just sing.

This Flower Friday is not about blooms but a big bunch of kale filling in for the centerpiece of the table. Both at Hawthorne and WestWard, the produce aisle at the grocery store or a quick stop at a roadside farm stand can reap big benefits when it comes to beautiful bundles of greens or herbs. Often times the grocery store flower section will be slim pickings, so I go to plan B. Kale is usually the winner as I love how full and ruffly and rich the greens are–perfect for a showstopper in the middle of the table.

The Maker, a new hotel, cafe & lounge on Warren Street in Hudson is not to be missed. Created by the talented folks behind Bartlett House in Ghent, no detail is too small to go unnoticed. From the food to the vibe to the furnishings, all done with great care. We had lunch there yesterday afternoon. The cafe and lounge are now open, the hotel portion slated to open this Summer. Being in the business of details, I am hyper aware of them when we are out and about when we shop/dine/meander. Sometimes the music is overly loud or nonexistent, the lighting not just right, or the staff aloof or unwelcoming. When I am in a place that gets it right, I let it wash over me like a welcome hug. Getting ALL the details right is a ton of work, while making it seem effortless is an art. The Maker has this down to a science, as does Bartlett House. I wrote long ago I would not write about a place we dined in a critical fashion. It is just not my style. There is enough criticism in our world. But when I/we like a place, we are all in. One of the most asked questions of me at the shops or in e-mails is where to dine, shop and stay. I am always happy to share the places we adore. For these establishments are labors of love–and to me, you feel that, you sense it, you taste it.

I snapped this photo from the driveway of Little Hawthorne this frigid and oh so glorious Hudson Valley morning after we were meeting with a contractor. The meaning of this trip is to get the wheels churning on all sorts of ideas swimming around our heads. We have a bunch of meetings set up with folks who specialize in all sorts of creative endeavors, be it farming to building. It is also a stay to have this all really sink in. We finalized and bought this house and land while we were in Seattle, so it did not really feel real until we were here and inside the house and walking the land. This is a much different story than almost six years ago when we bought Hawthorne–the house had been meticulously restored. Little Hawthorne is a project just waiting for us to make up our minds on a host of ideas and then switch the ‘on’ button. We are making sure to go about this methodically and to savor the process. It is so easy to jump into things and not be fully present along the way. We want to enjoy the heck out of this journey. The next chapter begins…

You all have been such a lovely part of our Hawthorne story, from the very beginning. Yesterday a new chapter begins. Our 1920 farmhouse was originally part of a farm way back when. The neighbor next door actually grew up in our house, then living in the house next door to us. We got to know her and her husband and were quite fond of them. In the last few years, they both passed. Hawthorne was on a small parcel of land right in the middle of what was the original farm. Our fun news is we bought the rest of the land (10 acres, along with our 1, making it a magic 11, a number you know near & dear to my heart) along with their house. We are pretty over the moon and dreaming of all the possibilities. I am daydreaming flower farm, while Mister Sive an orchard. The above photo, which I shot for Pottery Barn a few years back, you can see the outline of the fence, next to the pond. Oh yes, we now have a glorious pond! We are dubbing the new house, Little Hawthorne. Built in the 50’s, it is as solid as a rock and we are psyched about fixing it up. It will be a charming guest house, as well as be part of the Airbnb family when we are not there. Cheers to the next chapter of Hawthorne! Thanks for following along. X, T2+B

Each word of the book is so lovingly spoken and your voice exudes such warmth and kindness. You are so genuine with your readers. And so interested in teaching them how to love… Love art…. Love nature… Love small things… Love friends… Love family… And love life.

— Haley from New York

Ted’s ‘Style & Simplicity’ is absolutely Lovely (with a capital L)! It’s also charming, fun to read, and full of wonderful advice.

— Newell Turner, Editor in Chief at House Beautiful

Ted Kennedy Watson has a most refined sense of aesthetics…and he shares some of his best secrets, for which I am so grateful!

— Lisa Birnbach, author of The Official Preppy Handbook

Ted, and his namesake fine good emporiums Watson Kennedy are legendary in this town. What he does brilliantly is quality over trend, substance over vapid style.

— Kaye Wellman, author Eat, Shop, Seattle

If you’ve ever wanted to walk through a stylized photo in a magazine this shop is a phenomenal fix for that as the merchandising is crazy delicious to feast your eyes upon.

— Uncle Beefy at thebedlamofbeefy.com

I feel like a kid in a candy shop every time I walk in the door.

— Apartment Therapy

I ordered ‘Style & Simplicity’ and it was delivered to my home in Hermanus, South Africa. What a delightful book and inspiration!

— Marlien on Facebook

The Seattle tastemaker behind Watson Kennedy: a personally curated store with the absolute best gifts, treasures, home goods, and hand-selected music.

— Town & Country

#genius #book @watsonkennedy #brilliant #perfect #gift

— Howard Slatkin on Instagram

Truly a visual feast for the eyes and palate.Thank you for sharing your abundance of “everything good”.We customers are transported to shopping heaven while in your store(s) and website.

— Blog reader Kris

We’ve long been fans of Seattle retailer Ted Kennedy Watson and his first title certainly lives up to it’s stylish name. The lavish A to Z guide is bursting with tips on how to create a cozy, chic and inviting home.